“We’ll have five college presidents on hand for the cornerstone laying at the new dorm this Friday,” stated John Marrin, the departing President of Lamar Community College. Marrin was paying his final visit with the Prowers County Commissioners this past Monday, July 25th. He was describing the 10am event that will open the new dorm for the fall semester at LCC, where he served as president for seven years. Marrin announced his retirement earlier this year and a search for his successor was finalized recently with the hiring of Dr. Linda Lujan who will assume her duties on the first of August. Marrin said the five will be comprised of himself and Dr. Lujan as well as past presidents, James Rizzuto, Linda Bowman and Bette Matkowski.

Dr. Linda Lujan, New President at LCC

The public is invited to attend the ceremony which will be highlighted by the placing of a cornerstone at the new residence hall by Lamar Mason’s Lodge No. 90 which will be assisted by the Masonic Grand Lodge of Colorado. A time capsule will also be installed and will contain the histories of the Masonic Lodge as well as the college and the new dormitory. It’s expected the capsule will remain sealed until the year 2116.

Marrin stated, “We already have 25 persons signed up for the new dorm which can accommodate up to 31 students and we expect to have it filled to capacity by the time the fall semester begins on August 19th.” He said he was excited to see the dorm finally completed, mostly through the efforts of the college’s Foundation which sought donations for the construction costs, approximately $1,250,000. Marrin told the commissioners the revenue generated through added enrollment and dorm fees will help fund the planned second and third dorms which will be built in proximity to the first one. “We’ve already laid out the infrastructure for electric wiring and water and wastewater mains while we were constructing the first dorm,” he explained, which will save time and money through this additional foresight.

Marrin and the commissioners exchanged their appreciations for the good working relationship between the community and the college. Marrin stated, “It’s the community’s college, really, we aren’t separate from the town. We’re all in this together.”